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The Parable of the Talents
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more."
His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
The man with the two talents also came. "Master," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more."
His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
Then the man who had received the one talent came. "Master," he said, "I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have no sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you."
His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant!" So you knew that I harvest where I have no sown and gather where I have no scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
"Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." -- Matthew 25:14-30
Here, in one of Christ's longer parables, which followed his parable of the ten virgins, we have presented to us in full, the doctrine of human responsibility, and the relationship between what we have now and we we can anticipate in the future. These subjects are basic to Christianity, and deserving of our attention.
God grants certain talents to his creation
- Life
- Reason
- Influence
- Wealth
- Religious privileges
- The word
- Preached gospel
- Sabbaths
- Ordinances
- Grace
- Providence
The variety in character and number of talents given of God
- The nature of the talents conferred
- Ordinary blessings and privileges of life
- Learning
- Energy
- Eloquence
- Enterprise
- Wealth
- Influence
- Etc.
- According to his ability
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